Collapsible stand



1959 A. E. F. JOHNSON 2,901,123

COLLAPSIBLE STAND Filed Aug. 25. 1953 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent This invention relates to a collapsible stand. The stand is useful for supporting flowers and other objects. in hospital patients rooms and in other areas. a: I

An object of the invention isto provide a stand useful for supporting flowers and other objects in rooms and which may be moved with the objects thereon from one place to another. Another object is to provide such a stand which may be collapsed when it is no longer needed for supporting objects and wheeled to a storage area where it occupies a minimum of space. A still further object is to provide in such a collapsible stand means for supporting antifriction rollers so that they are efiective in spaced-apart relation for supporting the stand whether the stand be in expanded or collapsed condition. A still further object is to provide in such a structure means for rendering the structure rigid in either the collapsed or open position. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stand embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the stand in collapsed condition; Fig. 3, a top plan view of the stand in open position, as illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an end view of the expanded stand; and Fig. 5, an end view of the collapsed stand.

In the illustration given, 10 designates a central frame member in the shape of an inverted U. 11 designates a side frame member which is Ushaped. 12 designates also a side frame member which is also U-shaped, but with the legs of the U longer than those of the frame member 11. The frame members 11 and 12 are spaced laterally of the central \frame member 10. All three frame members are shown formed of tubular metal, but it will be understood that other types of structures may be used. A shelf 13 is pivotally connected at its inner side to the legs of the central frame member 10. Pivot pins 14 extend through the tubes of the frame 10 and into the shelf 13 for pivotally supporting the inner end of the shelf as described. Similarly, the outer end of the shelf 13 is pivotally supported to the upper ends of the legs of the side frame 11. Pins 15 extend inwardly through the legs of the member 11 to thus pivotally support the inner edge of the shelf 13.

Similarly, an upper shelf 16 is pivotally supported at its inner end upon the legs of the frame 10 by means of pins 17. Similarly, the other end of the shelf 16 is pivotally connected to the upper ends of the legs of the side frame 12. The shelf 16 is preferably provided at each end with a depending flange 18 apertured to receive the pins 17. If desired, each of the shelves 13 and 16 are provided at their inner edge with an upwardly-turned retainer flange 19.

Extending laterally from the bottom of the central frame member 10 are transverse links 20 which are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the bottom portion of the frame member 10 and at their outer ends to the legs of the U-shaped members 11 and 12. The U-shaped Patented Aug. 25, 1959 2 members 11 and 12 are preferably equipped at their bottom sides with casters or rollers 21;

In order to rigidly anchor the stand in either the expanded or'collapsed positions, I pivotally connect to the bottom end portion of the U-shaped frame members 11 and 12 at 22 and 23' the long obliquely positioned links 22 and 23, each of which isprovided at its upper end with elongated slots 24. A screw post 25 extends through the slots 24 of the links 22iand 23 and into the vertical leg of the central frame member 10. A clamping nut or wing nut 26 engages the screw 25 and serves to clamp the links 22 and 23 in either the retracted position shown in Fig. 4 or in the extended position when the stand is collapsed, asshownin Fig.- 5. v i

In the operation of the structure, the wing nut 26 may be loosened and the shelves 13 and 16 moved to horizontal position withthe consequent expansion of the stand to the positionillustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4; The wing nut 26=may then be tightened to secure ,the links 22 and 23 in the retracted position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, so that the stand is thus rigidly locked in open position. Flowers or other objects may be placed upon the shelves 13 and 16 and the cart or stand may be wheeled to any desired location. In the structure shown, an extremely sturdy support is provided because the U-shaped member 12 has elongated legs extending upwardly nearly to the top of the central frame 10 and braces the central frame 10 near its top, while the side frame 11 supports the shelf 13 at an intermediate point for bracing the frame 10 about midway of its height. The flowers or other objects may be thus supported upon the frame at different elevations, and the braced stand thus is effective in supporting the heavy objects at the different elevations.

When the stand is not needed, the structure may be folded to the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the central frame 10 being elevated as the shelves 13 and 16 are folded towardvertical position and the side frames 11 and 12 coming to a position close to each other, as illustrated in Fig. 5. In either the open or collapsed position, the rollers 21 are supported in even, spaced relation and serve as a support in the moving of the stand.

When the structure is used as a support for flowers, heavy vases or pots may be supported upon the lower shelf 13 so that the central portion 10 serves as a back support for the flowers or vases, pots, etc. Smaller pots, 'vases or other objects may be supported upon the upper shelf 16, for which the central frame member 10 forms a narrow back support. The locking of the frame members in open position or in collapsed position is accomplished very readily through the tightening of the wing a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible stand comprising an inverted U-shaped central frame extending along a vertical plane, a pair of U-shaped side frames extending along parallel vertical planes and being spaced from said central frame on opposite sides thereof, a pair of shelves extending between said central frame and each of said side frames, each of said shelves being pivotally connected to said central frame and to one of said side frames for pivotal movement as said central and side frames are moved vertically with reference to each other, connecting means pivotally connecting said central and side frames and spaced below said shelves for maintaining said frames along parallel I planes, and a pair of obliquely-positioned elongated links having lower ends pivotally connected to said side frames and having upper portions with longitudinally extending slots, said central frame havinga post projecting through both of said slots and being slidable therealong as said central frame is moved vertically with reference to said side frames, said post b'ei'ng-engageable with saidlinksat the lower ends of said slots for. preventing downward movement of said central. frame below a point where said pivotal shelves are horizontally disposed, said jcentral frame projecting above said shelves to providea handle,

whereby, when said stand is lifted by said. handle said 10 central frame moves upwardly with reference to said side frames to collapse said stand, and when said handle is moved downwardly said post slides along said slots until said shelves are horizontally disposed andsaid stand is fully expanded.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which eachof said central and side frames is of tubular one-piece construction.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said post is provided with clamping means for clamping said links against movement with reference to said central frame and for 20 selectively locking said stand in expanded and collapsed conditions.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said post is engageable with said" links at the upper end of said slots for limiting upward movement of said central frame with reference to said side frames, said pivotal shelves being substantially vertical when said central frame is fully raised.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

